Greetings!

Here we are in the midst of a season filled with many kinds of holidays, where festivities abound. We hope you’ll include at least these three church-centered events in your calendars. These are three meaning-filled, connective traditions that are very much family friendly, where we can warm our hearts between all the many other events pulling our attention:

• Fri 12/6 Holiday Potluck and Party: This is a sweet all-ages event where everyone can share a festive meal together, sing or listen to carols, make kitschy ornaments, and revel in conversation with old and new friends. Potluck and party begin at 6pm in the Social Hall. Bring any dish to share, whether it has special meaning for you, or you pick it up from the grocery en route. If you would like to help decorate the sanctuary, join us earlier for the Hanging of the Greens at 4:00.
• Sun 12/22 Christmas Pageant: One of the most beloved worship days of the year, this is a multigenerational worship (meaning kids remain in the sanctuary for the whole service) and there is a pick up style pageant that is active, fun, and wondrous. If anyone in your family would like a special role or job for the pageant, you can email JenDB or Kirsten in advance.
• Tues 12/31 NYE Chili Sale Fundraiser for our high school youth group! 5:30-7:30p, Family pricing available. There will be LOTS of kinds of chili, plus cornbread and extras. Come have dinner in great company for a fun evening, then see the fireworks at 7:00! (also available as to-go meals)
  • If you’re able to donate a crockpot of your favorite chili or sides for our youth to include in the sale, sign up here!

Also, don’t miss this one, which is just for the kids: Holiday Market Sun 12/8 during social hour! Kids of any age (yes, teens too!) are invited to come “shop” for free for their loved ones, leaving with lovingly wrapped gifts for their people. This was really special and successful last year, and we’re grateful to Donna Waldron and the FA’s for offering it again.

There will be 2 Christmas Eve services, at 5pm and 8pm on 12/24. Generally, the 5pm worship is more lively, with lots of our families with younger kids attending, and 8pm tends to be a little quieter. But everyone of any age should come to either service!

In other news, here’s what’s been going on in our various Religious Education programs:

• Nursery is the cutest spot in the world, with some tiny regulars and some new faces joining. Our dear Nursery go above and beyond. They enjoy spending some of their personal time making play dough and sourcing other activities for our sweet toddlers and babies.
• Young Church has been following the LEGO ValUUes curriculum, with weekly stories and LEGO challenges that connect to the Article II UU values. They have also developed a strong routine around their check in, where they share “rose, bud and thorn.” This is important community pastoral care that enhances their own well-being and develops bonds with peers.
• 5th-7th Service Learning group has been small, now that many of the potential participants are in the two OWL classes that are meeting. But those who show up find an intimate setting where they learn about what various groups do at church, while performing tasks that are helpful to our community.
• Coming of Age 8th graders had an overnight fall retreat that was filled with ceremony, workshops, a wild Mount A Challenge, and breakfast with their mentors. They also have been exploring UU Identity.
• High School Youth Group had their first Learning Session connected to their year-long theme that will culminate with a trip to General Assembly in June. To support their journey, watch for their candle and fair trade sales during social hour on 12/15 & 12/22.
• Our Whole Lives (OWL) for elementary and middle school youth–Participants are doing a great job leaning into conversation and participating in various activities connected to a wide range of sexuality topics.
• Sparks & Flames social group for grades 5-8 went bowling in Nov and will have a movie night/snackfest on Dec 13th
• Families Tuugether participants are getting to know each other in meaningful ways–parents through shared conversation before their free time, and kids through play and silly antics with the coolest teens around.

Do you have any thoughts or questions about how to engage your children (or yourself) in this community? There are so many ways to be involved at church, and no one thing is the right fit for everyone. Reach out to us if you’d like to talk about options–this kind of matchmaking is one of our favorite things to do!

If you still haven’t registered your kids for the current RE year, please do it now! This is an easy but incredibly helpful task and it doesn’t come with any obligation to attend regularly. Click HERE to fill out the online form. 

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December Church Theme is “Presence”

• Spiritual Decathlon: This is a monthly spiritual practice that began in September. It is meant for all ages, and involves choosing one action per week (from a list or make up your own) that somehow connects to your spirituality and maybe even connects to the monthly theme. Get a gold star for each week you participate! More info here, and following are some family- or kid-friendly options for this month:
  • Spend a set amount of time (10 mins? 30 mins?) just sitting and noticing. Maybe try a brief sense meditation: What are 5 things you can see? 4 things you can hear? 3 things you can touch/feel? 2 things you can smell? 1 thing you can taste?
  • Decide as a family on one new intentional activity you can do together, that feels in line with your values or how you want the holidays to be. Examples: make cookies for your neighbors and hand deliver them; Create gifts for the birds around your home; Do a fun gratitude activity together
• Slowing Down: Doing things that help slow our busy lives can help us repair in many kinds of ways. We’re carrying this one over from last month because it’s so good and still works for this month’s theme: “Slow Down Childhood Challenge” calendar, offered by Nicolette Sowder at Wilder Child. The calendar is for November, but can be used any time.
• Books/stories with a Presence message: Read or watch videos of these stories…
  • “Peter and the Golden Thread” by Robin Sharma, read here
  • “Twas the Night Before Yuletide” by CC Wilford, read here
  • “Winter is the Warmest Season,” by Lauren Stringer (video read aloud, or book)
  • “Winter’s Gifts,” by Kaitlin B. Curtice  (An Indigenous Celebration of Nature)  Book: Here Read-Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4OOLatVLfc 
• December Shared Plate Organization: Greater Seacoast Community Health. https://getcommunityhealth.org

Chalice Lighting For Meal Times:

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Click here for 2024-2025 RE Program Information

• Sunday, December 1st:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Arthur Eves
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Special RE class for all kids Pre-K through 7th grade, meets downstairs following TFAA 
  • No class for OWL, Coming of Age, or Senior Youth
• Friday, December 6th:
  • Holiday Party and Potluck! 6pm in social hall (or come help decorate the sanctuary starting at 4pm!)
• Sunday, December 8th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Children’s Holiday Market open to all kids after worship!
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30p in Milk Classroom. 
  • Senior Youth meets for an extended Learning Session, 3-6p at 73 Court St
• Friday, December 13th:
  • Sparks & Flames Movie Night & Snackfest, 7-9p. For all 5th-8th graders. Parents, please RSVP by noon Thurs!
• Sunday, December 15th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00a at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday, December 22nd:
  • PAGEANT DAY!! Multigenerational Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
  • Nursery is NOT staffed today–all babies and toddlers come to worship!
  • No RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade, no OWL, no Coming of Age, and no Senior Youth. Come to the Pageant!!
• Tuesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)
  • Worship at 5:00p, in person in the sanctuary
  • Worship at 8:00p, in person in the sanctuary and live on YouTube.
• Sunday, December 29th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
  • Nursery is not staffed today.
  • All-ages RE fun will meet downstairs following the TFAA
  • No class today for OWL, Coming of Age, or Senior Youth
• Friday, December 6th:
  • Holiday Potluck Party and Hanging of the Greens! 
• Sunday, January 5th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten, on her last day before leaving on sabbatical
  • Children’s Holiday Market open to all kids after worship!
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • Elementary OWL meets 10-11:30a in Carson Parlor
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:15a at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30p in Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meets 4-5:30p at 73 Court St